![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiZvT8bt4cxXECH3axOdU-48YsYQvACKjMC1h3cxScJFAehjKJS3xns6NUIpxwVe57wJGb9PER4V34VGBz21Owm6cQMykrbF0YxuIIoZpNNiybGovKu9bm1O4zshfMxq7jQoMX6mEtP6Y/s400/Olympic+Torch+Gloucester+24+05+2012+015.jpg)
My home town of Gloucester can seem a pretty dull place at times ( especially after visits to more happenin' locations like
London ) but occasionally things can hot up around these 'ere parts. This week, of course, saw the Olympic Torch reaching the shores of Old Blighty and going for a whistle-stop tour of the country ahead of the actual London Olympics.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIbXKr5J5FX6GjLq46Jy6_63JaM4gF2OdhNjlgUkJgUykhxE0h8I-PdLn-b2Vm0E1WYSF__Vah7dV1of48fdqEzd3JJJl251XmtAozKDYupHHaJI1PUfBLp1_7ubfjABkURDC13M6numD/s400/Olympic+Torch+Gloucester+24+05+2012+005.jpg)
After a triumphant-looking appearance in Cheltenham the night before ( featuring the strange combo of
Zara Phillips and
Labrinth... ) the Torch arrived in Gloucester Docks early on Friday morning. Being currently unemployed ( a scrounger, a waster, dole-scum ) I managed to get down to Glos Cathedral for about 7:30 ( in the AM! ) to see the Torch arrive in the city centre.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00QM-YrCNPqhuSXyARsg0z6lx08xxecooflz-vq3JFMU2ZYyjz8Bsw_NFlA85G75_LOesAfVIqqa5fICKPrZv32eGfQFtP8aOwIi2zM2xeGb-kPeXZVL3gQn9TD0cAm32oR-k8ueyyxTY/s400/Olympic+Torch+Gloucester+24+05+2012+006.jpg)
Even though it was quite a chilly, misty morning ( after a week of solid sunshine ) loads of people had turned out to see the relay runners appear. I'm not too sold on all the flag-waving,
faux-patriotism of such events, but there was definitely a very positive, friendly atmosphere and a sense of being a small part of an historic event. I'm sure I'll never see another Olympic Games in this country in my lifetime, so I'm glad I went along. ( I tried to persuade James to come too, as he had a half day from school, but he couldn't drag himself out of his flea-pit at that time of morning... )
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTv8ikWgNnWkrWv_G8syhksINpCp8cP3XM78A-r5eLkIcUt77osa0VVTuPzdJhnZLJMRTlYrpf-679WH5fZkFEYJMejDE6rm_1e4LtuBkHZDguOwnA7YZnmk4GSYfC-_fWdwQTvUklowXk/s400/Olympic+Torch+Gloucester+24+05+2012+009.jpg)
As my camera decided to malfunction at the
very second the Torch passed by me ( shit! ), I only managed to get this long shot of the very cute athlete who ran up to the Cathedral. After a few photos the relay runners changed over and they ran back out again. Phew! No time for any sight-seeing :-)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1psoma4JGC7yhlWP2_30BC7sLX0kTOXVSRuj6op8IlmoYSkgebt4XBCQQ7c7wtsNQe_MGgQtFkHz4KYU1NJXc9WOwaXxIMIOAg3mPfivaep84eghdc8zGyptxg3ChtmTjJ7BzjAex8A5/s400/Olympic+Torch+Gloucester+24+05+2012+013.jpg)
Hordes of people, me included, then headed down to
Kingsholm Rugby ground to see the next leg of the journey.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vTVvX9o0ZOL7kflWTn7fIM7xlsXL7HCsZeEDsD8UAPr0P5RoD3dGijnIn_LCi5X9NlxejtMYhGFGk5lZkDD0fvGUcBdjgrhMz1iDuURo-xbsUCnwNN9SwKoj_1hogBkvaQcdJyVJYrJS/s400/Olympic+Torch+Gloucester+24+05+2012+016.jpg)
The police escort above gave the local cops the opportunity to be waved at and cheered on for a change... as opposed to being shouted at and having bricks thrown at them. I remarked to my friend Eric who was standing next to me that the last time I saw so many cops in Glos they were all sitting in
riot vans...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZsLngGKCQ_7s2jOxLMn2_lJ5sPqMsgdorozSM-zMhj07sNg52P2_Vw4Lcrv8_Pep_aK21CVRh8a7dyDDRim31O4k4exxDhu06XSjSh3RM-QCx1EEuWWQajEEXtR9_hsJruZ8-fA2RJmI/s400/Olympic+Torch+Gloucester+24+05+2012+018.jpg)
More athletes and assorted Olympic organisers...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S34L3qVmt4qylf5xgpJr2qFfki2W35mn8p-cMf7bgvHxrx4K88VLkncQFcVKExMXDOiczIhOYKsYUCgD9657FOo-ZQiPA4qDN80eTF940eeLjPicusiK6hXODvHnCdvEZoz_ELq7Q6cO/s400/Olympic+Torch+Gloucester+24+05+2012+024.jpg)
And then the Torch put in another appearance... and I managed to get a couple of photos :-)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPUbwm82wwE-gVj57roMYkbGOQBJsQGmI1VoZrLQN4Yc3WLokkw4XYHICtLAGigMYVMv1YuSm83mB_F_zTZMHbxtMrdMVdKwvkqkgpvErzhaRbZyNkpQFWRnito99ZRmhPMdM3xBXxvct/s400/Olympic+Torch+Gloucester+24+05+2012+025.jpg)
On a less historic but more musical, er, note... Sarah and I saw a couple of bands play at Gloucester's Cafe Rene today at the Rene:gade Festival, in aid of the mental health charity
Mind.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTmefmjQ7ekijSxR5_gNgkHTfc-ZSRxEgzS-Z0rISGM5Fi-BBnjYabRx6-chbbbBg35UDATe2Shpw6Yf-6ZLv63t0hz-1OGX1iu7G39qGnbClwJg7mE-Y5OpPkCPGl3-NFxPrxxedY8V7/s400/Renegade+Festival+Cafe+Rene+26+05+2012+004.jpg)
Opening the festival were
The Fixed, a scarily young band I first saw at Bristol's Fleece last year supporting the
mighty Chinese Burn.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkbQtkvdLHEMAtQvdseOygVu4AZEwqyZ-i_9q6c-qC9ofYENVJLjv7csp3yR4hKNS1vMkgEol0l-1kOI8XKMpP3EGDTifwANoEr0lVHyGn_c0icSU-TXdLEopHJyi6CprkdeqR0WRSs5Q/s400/Renegade+Festival+Cafe+Rene+26+05+2012+005.jpg)
I don't think The Fixed will be relegated to opening festivals much longer! They're a highly professional and talented band for ones so young ( I know how to patronise, don't I? ) who have a sunny, Vampire Weekend / early Talking Heads sound, often very funky and with an ability to properly rock out when needed. They're definitely going to go far...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvL6q8q2memyXcPaM22HokNFlVMoxfAPiQy4Ho14tvJWT5tFH0Lxt1HpS3fDol1qvlyhmws-BbFZemCDvOVhZN6SfaJeVcaogdZl6gA2_XZ5HV45kUg41ZKgbqLFJbo2KpJ-fxdwdciNtJ/s400/Renegade+Festival+Cafe+Rene+26+05+2012+008.jpg)
The next band on were the unfortunately-named
Nudybronque, a quirky, energetic indie band with some great tunes and some spot-on vocal harmonies. Somewhat in the vein of bands like The Automatic or Lo-Fi Allstars ( or even The long-lost Zutons ) they're another band to watch out for...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KB1bnBLnONLnmhLlwkKXnsqMOAlPqq48_leCX0TohMyXdz0AyjV09xp-ThmKmRI4DNJKqRiKnoWgnJ6ekMYUWRhg_da44c5-EnI-JqSk7s_LMB3WjiflOZKwGU78xdF75PtXALaxIDan/s400/Renegade+Festival+Cafe+Rene+26+05+2012+010.jpg)
And, just around the corner from all this rock 'n' roll, we find a certain cat...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuDp0Ai121mzy6mz8A_NCc4bhjteXCMllvtSIcbuHovx-MnjRPLEXKVZVXqs7RX6ttqWxVgUTm_V6d8wpHsPkhw5ny5q5Zv146dQ5Rhp3DyLcOGalD7NPzMys8jLoX7QKE3ND7Qqc5URl/s400/Old+Gloucester+College+Graffiti+May+2012+004.jpg)
The latest additions to the graffiti surrounding the former
Gloucester Art College, these pictures of Felix, the cat who walks by himself, are cheeky and funny and strangely appropriate.
Soundtrack: assorted songs from The Fixed and Nudybronque